This hearty Taco Soup recipe bursts with crave-worthy Mexican flavors, and then it comes together in just 30 minutes. After only 10 minutes of prep work, it’s easy to serve up a warm bowl of this soup loaded with ground beef, tomatoes, corn, beans, and a quick homemade taco seasoning.

Like our Slow Cooker Beef Chili, this is the perfect bowl of comfort for cooler weather, and it also has the same crowd-pleasing flavors as our irresistible Taco Salad. This Taco Soup is the best of both!

Taco soup in a bowl loaded with tortilla chips, cheese, sour cream and avocado.

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The Best Taco Soup Recipe

We love all foods Mexican around here. Whether it’s Chicken Fajitas, Fish Tacos, or even Ceviche, Mexican-inspired recipes are always on rotation. This taco soup is a great substitute for Taco Tuesday when you want tacos yet something hot and satisfying.

But if you need more reasons to try this easy taco soup, here are some convincing points:

  • Easy, 30-minute meal and a 1-pot recipe for fast cleanup
  • Simple ingredients found in your pantry and versatile (you can change it up)
  • Make-Ahead – Reheats and freezes well (see storage tips below)
Hearty homemade Mexican stew in a Dutch oven topped with cilantro.

Ingredients

These taco soup ingredients are mostly found in your pantry, and then we just add a quick homemade taco seasoning for that authentic Mexican flavor:

  • Taco Seasoning – Prepare our homemade taco seasoning (which is easy), or use your favorite store-bought taco seasoning packet
  • Ground Beef – Use lean ground beef 85-90% for best taste. Since we’re using lean ground beef, add a little oil to keep it from sticking to the pan
  • Onion – White or yellow. White onion is often used in Mexican cooking, but white and yellow onions are generally interchangeable 
  • Bell Pepper – 1/2 of each of red and green peppers, gives great flavor and color to the soup, but you can use 1 whole pepper of either color in a pinch.
  • Garlic – adds great flavor and aromatics
  • Beans – We prefer kidney beans or pinto beans, but you can use black beans or even garbanzo beans if you prefer
  • Corn – canned, fresh, or frozen will work
  • Tomatoes – diced tomatoes work great here, but you can substitute canned diced tomatoes or 2 jars of Rotel (canned tomatoes with green chilis) depending on how spicy you like your soup
  • Beef Broth – We use low sodium to control the salt in the soup

Pro Tip

Be sure to rinse your canned beans and corn before adding them to the soup as they can be high in salt. Rinsing canned vegetables is recommended to reduce the salt content. It’s better to season the soup yourself, adding salt to taste.

Diced ingredients in glass bowls including beans, corn, onion and peppers

Substitutions

Taco soup is super forgiving and versatile. Try some of these substitutions to make it your own:

  • For added heat, chop jalapeños to add with the garlic, or afterward, add Sriracha or hot sauce at the end
  • Adjust the thickness of the soup by adding or reducing the amount of broth, or adding an extra can of beans for a thicker soup. Also, you could even use refried beans
  • Swap the protein, instead of ground beef, try ground turkey, pork, or chicken. For shredded chicken, check out this recipe for our Chicken Tortilla Soup

How to Make Taco Soup

See how easy it is to serve the best taco soup recipe in just 30 minutes:

  • Taco Seasoning – Mix the taco seasoning ingredients and set aside.
  • Heat oil in a Dutch oven and sauté the ground beef. Then, add just a touch of taco seasoning to season the meat.
  • Chop the onion and cube the pepper and tomatoes.
  • Add the vegetables, remaining ingredients, and seasoning to the cooked ground beef. Simmer on low for 12-15 minutes, and then serve hot.
Step-by-step instructions on how to make taco soup

Don’t Forget Dessert!

After the soup, don’t forget to finish the meal with a Mexican-inspired sweet treat like Churros, Flan, or Tres Leches Cake.

What is the difference between chili and taco soup?

Taco soup and chili have similar ingredients but the main difference is in consistency and seasonings. Taco soup is thinner than chili. We use Taco Seasoning for taco soup because it lends a traditional Mexican flavor.

Can I make Taco Soup in a slow cooker?

Sure! After sautéing the meat in step two, transfer the cooked meat and the rest of the ingredients to a slow cooker. Cook on low for 4-6 hours or high for 2-3 hours.

Is Taco Soup low carb?

As written, this Taco Soup recipe isn’t low-carb, but with a few tweaks, it could fit a low-carb, keto diet. Omit the beans and any carb-heavy toppings, like tortilla strips.

Taco soup in ladle

Toppings for Taco Soup

We love adding all our favorite taco toppings when serving taco soup, and we like serving the toppings in individual bowls on the table just like you would with tacos. Here are a few toppings to try:

  • Tortilla chips or crushed Doritos
  • A dollop of sour cream
  • Diced avocado or guacamole
  • Cheddar or Mexican cheese
  • Fresh cilantro or chopped green onions
  • Lime wedges
  • Warm Homemade Tortillas
Hearty taco soup in a bowl topped with avocado and cheese.

This recipe brings together two amazing recipes in one: Beef Tacos and soup, a perfect combination. You are totally in for a treat with this quick taco soup.

Make-Ahead

Taco soup keeps really well, so you won’t waste a single drop!

  • To Refrigerate: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days
  • Freezing: Transfer the soup into freezer-friendly containers or use freezer zip-top bags. In fact, we like to freeze in single-serving portions for easy defrosting.
  • To Reheat: Thaw in the fridge overnight, and then reheat in the microwave or on the stove.

More Easy Soup Recipes

If you loved this taco soup recipe, check out these fan-favorite soup recipes for your next meal:

Natasha's Kitchen Cookbook

Easy Taco Soup Recipe

5 from 211 votes
Author: Valentina Ablaev
The easiest homemade taco soup recipe loaded with ground beef, beans, corn, pepper and tomatoes with a homemade taco seasoning. Top soup with cheese, avocado, cheese, sour cream and tortilla chips.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients 

Servings: 6 servings

Taco Soup:

  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, finely diced
  • ½ red bell pepper, diced
  • ½ green bell pepper, diced
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 Tbsp Taco Seasoning, or 1 packet of store-bought taco seasoning
  • 16 oz can beans, , drained (kidney or pinto)
  • 1 cup corn, canned, freshly or frozen
  • 1 1/2 cups tomatoes, diced, from about 1 lb fresh tomatoes*
  • 2 cups beef broth

Instructions

  • Make Taco Seasoning or measure out 2 Tbsp of storebought taco seasoning from 1 packet.
  • In a Dutch oven, heat oil. Once hot, add the ground beef, onion, and bell peppers and sauté until the beef is browned, breaking it up with a spatula as you cook. Spoon out any excess fat.
  • Add garlic and Taco Seasoning, and stir for another minute.
  • Add beans, corn, tomatoes and broth. Bring to a boil then reduce the heat to low, cover, and keep at a simmer for for 15 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper to taste, or add more taco seasoning.
  • Serve soup hot with your desired toppings.

Notes

*For a spicier taco soup, add a finely chopped jalapeno when the garlic is added. You can also add a little more spicey substituting the fresh tomatoes with 2 cans of Rotel diced tomatoes and green chilis. 

Nutrition Per Serving

267kcal Calories22g Carbs22g Protein11g Fat4g Saturated Fat1g Polyunsaturated Fat5g Monounsaturated Fat0.5g Trans Fat49mg Cholesterol461mg Sodium815mg Potassium6g Fiber5g Sugar804IU Vitamin A30mg Vitamin C44mg Calcium3mg Iron
Nutrition Facts
Easy Taco Soup Recipe
Amount per Serving
Calories
267
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
11
g
17
%
Saturated Fat
 
4
g
25
%
Trans Fat
 
0.5
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
1
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
5
g
Cholesterol
 
49
mg
16
%
Sodium
 
461
mg
20
%
Potassium
 
815
mg
23
%
Carbohydrates
 
22
g
7
%
Fiber
 
6
g
25
%
Sugar
 
5
g
6
%
Protein
 
22
g
44
%
Vitamin A
 
804
IU
16
%
Vitamin C
 
30
mg
36
%
Calcium
 
44
mg
4
%
Iron
 
3
mg
17
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course: Main Course, Soup
Cuisine: American, Mexican
Keyword: taco soup
Skill Level: Easy
Cost to Make: $$
Calories: 267

Valentina Ablaev

I am Valentina, the creator behind the food blog Valentina’s Corner where I share our family’s favorite recipes. When I am not in the kitchen, I enjoy spending quality time with my husband and 5 children. We invite you to join us on our blogging journey!

Read more posts by Valentina

Leave a Comment

Recipe Rating




Comments

  • Judy Freeman
    March 16, 2024

    Can chick peas be used instead of black beans or kidney beans?

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      March 16, 2024

      Hi Judy! I haven’t tested this with chickpeas but feel free to experiment with different beans. I don’t see why not.

      Reply

  • Sally Wilkinson s
    March 8, 2024

    Hey Natasha
    So I was just wondering why you don’t make youtube video’s for all your recipes I wish you had one for this one I rely on your video’s a lot to help me.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      March 10, 2024

      Hello Sally, thanks for your suggestion. I wish I can but we really want to post good quality videos for everyone but hopefully we can do more this year!

      Reply

  • Julie
    March 6, 2024

    We made this tonight. I had to improvise a lot because I just wanted to use what I had on hand. But it turned out so delicious! I topped mine with avocado and diced onions. Yummy!

    Reply

  • J Cole
    March 3, 2024

    This is just delicious! I am so grateful for the taco-seasoning recipe, as there is just too much junk in the store-bought kind! Plus, the flavor of yours is much better. I look forward to coming home to this soup after a long day at work, getting a treat of a longtime favorite « taco » but knowing this is so much healthier. I love garbanzo beans, so put those instead of the kidney beans; top off with a few corn chips, and I’m in heaven!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      March 3, 2024

      Awesome! Thanks a lot for your excellent comments and feedback. I’m glad to hear that you loved it!

      Reply

  • Tlynn
    February 22, 2024

    I add rice n black olives n salsa SOO Delicious!!❤💚💜💙💛

    Reply

    • Dea
      March 15, 2024

      At the end A dollop of sour cream right before you eat it.. Makes it that much better along with a lil sprinkle of cheese…

      Reply

  • Janice Tillman
    January 19, 2024

    I made this last night and it was delicious! I was out of diced tomatoes so substituted salsa, but everything else was your recipe. This will be a staple go to meal at our house

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      January 19, 2024

      I’m so glad to hear you loved the recipe, Janice!

      Reply

  • Cindy R
    January 11, 2024

    Made this for dinner and it was delicious. To each bowl I added shredded cheese, generous amount of fresh cilantro and a dollop of sour cream. Corn tortillas on the side and it was a hit!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      January 11, 2024

      Sounds amazing! Thank you for trying the recipe! I’m glad you loved it.

      Reply

  • Cathy T
    December 2, 2023

    So very good. I used one 15 oz can of petite diced tomatoes and one can of Rotel..a little extra spice but not too much. Black beans for the beans because I had them on hand…but any beans would be great. And your taco mix recipe…probably the best secret/not secret ingredient. This is such a great, easy and really delicious recipe

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      December 2, 2023

      I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Cathy!

      Reply

  • Susan D Turner
    November 22, 2023

    Only had a small can of corn but it was sufficient. I did three cups of beef broth I wanted a little bit more broth. The only change I made was to add a big handful of roughly chopped fresh cilantro which really gave it an authenticity. Will definitely make again it was delicious

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      November 22, 2023

      I’m so glad you loved it, Susan!

      Reply

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